Program Overview
Visit the Land of the Midnight Sun at a time of year when inhabitants enjoy 20 hours of sunlight per day. See the breathtaking terrain of mountains, fjords, sheer cliffs, and waterfalls which have spawned a thousand-year-old plus civilization of hardworking, caring people whose lifestyles and policies continue to support a healthy society. Experience the culture that has developed a health care system that results in one of the world's healthiest nations: Norway ranks number 1 in the 2001, 2002, 2003 UN ranking of nations for overall quality of life and has been identified as a global leader in infant mortality and maternal child health outcomes. More importantly, Norway ranks third lowest in infant mortality in the world, whereas the United States ranks 28th in this statistic (Health United States, 2002). Delaware ranks 38th out of 50 states in premature births, a precursor of infant mortality. These national and state rankings pose immediate responses of incredulity and extreme concern. Our American reality is that our country, which often is perceived as a “land of plenty,” does not demonstrate leadership in maternal-child outcomes. This program will explore some of the maternal and child health initiatives and practices in Norway that may explain this discrepancy, and will enable students to see firsthand how these policies are implemented in various health care facilities in several communities.
After several pre-departure class sessions, the overseas portion of the program will begin in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, where students will learn about Norway’s unique healthcare system by visiting the National Breastfeeding Center, the National Institute of Public Health Mother and Child Cohort Study, and various selected health stations for maternal/infant care. The group will then proceed to the coastal city of Bergen by scenic train route to visit the National Medical Birth Registry and Regional Hospital. Finally, the group will take a panoramic bus ride through fjords, mountains and cliffs to Trondheim to see a working Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and interact with clinicians in Public Health as well as at the Viktoria Center for abused pregnant women and pregnant women with substance abuse problems .
In addition to healthcare-related excursions, the program will include cultural fieldtrips to the Viking Museum, Hanseatic Museum, fishmarkets, and other sites, plus a 2-day side trip above the Arctic Circle for a Midnight Sun guided tour. In Oslo and Bergen students will be provided with a city pass which provides unlimited local transportation as well as admission into a host of museums and cultural and historical sites.
Whether you’re interested in prenatal care, healthcare policy, or nutritional issues, the Summer Session in Norway gives you a chance to interact with and observe clinicians and patients while learning about this country’s unique culture during the long days of the Scandinavian summer.
Students reside in double hotel rooms; on most program days a full buffet breakfast and supper are provided.
UD students pay all program fee deposits by direct bank transfer via this website: http://www.udel.edu/studyabroadpayments. Non-UD students should send a check, payable to the University of Delaware, to CFIS, Elliott Hall, 26 East Main Street, Newark, DE 19716. Credit card payments are not accepted.
